The Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic Movement Restrictions on Self-Reported Physical Activity and Health in New Zealand: A Cross-Sectional Survey

Abstract

This study describes self-reported physical activity (PA), motivation to exercise, physical and mental health and feelings towards PA during the March-May 2020 COVID-19 lockdown in New Zealand. Adults over the age of 18 years (n = 238; 80.2% female) completed the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), the Behavioural Regulation in Exercise Questionnaire 3, the Short Form-36 and open-ended questions about PA through an anonymous online survey. Regular exercise was undertaken by 85% of respondents prior to lockdown, but only 49.8% were able to maintain their usual level of PA. Although respondents were considered sufficiently physically active from the IPAQ, 51.5% reported not being able to maintain their usual level of PA primarily due to the closure of their gym facilities. Sixty percent of respondents reported that PA had a positive effect on their overall wellbeing. When asked to specify which aspects of wellbeing were affected, the effect on mental health was reported the most while the effect on body image or fitness was reported the least. Strategies to increase or maintain engagement in physical activity during lockdowns should be encouraged to promote positive mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Lifestyles and Quality of Life of Women With Fertility Problems: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…The recommendations received by the population during the confinement, together with the fact that most of the participants had more time available to them during this time, may justify the participants' increased engagement in exercise. In another study carried out in a New Zealand population (in which an increase in physical activity was also observed during confinement), the participants indicated that one of the main reasons for this increase was that they had more time available to them because they no longer had to travel to their place of work ( 43 ). In our study, around 60% of the participants were in a similar situation in which, for various reasons (e.g., remote working, cessation of work activity, or unemployment) their outings were restricted to ‘essential activities' such as the purchase of essential products, foods, or medications.…”

Relationships between Physical Activity, Work Ability, Absenteeism and Presenteeism in Australian and New Zealand Adults during COVID-19

“…The proportion of participants in this study who reported meeting the MVPA and strength exercise guidelines was higher than that reported in adult Australian and international populations prior to COVID-19 [ 9 , 10 , 11 ]. Other data have indicated that some people may have engaged in more PA because they had more time due to not having to commute to work and recognised the need to participate in regular PA during the pandemic [ 2 ]. Of the 185 participants who met the strength exercise guideline, 81.1% also met the MVPA guideline.…”

“…This is likely to have resulted in changes to employment and health behaviours. Findings from studies across a range of countries indicate that community-wide PA participation decreased [ 1 , 2 ], sedentary behaviour increased [ 1 , 3 ], and poorer mental wellbeing was associated with lower activity levels during this time [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 ]. These behaviours have important health ramifications, as regularly engaging in sufficient amounts of physical activity (PA) and minimising sedentary behaviour is beneficial for health and important for preventing and managing chronic diseases [ 6 , 7 ].…”

Physical Activity, Mental Health and Wellbeing of Adults within and during the Easing of COVID-19 Restrictions, in the United Kingdom and New Zealand

“…However, physical distancing and self-isolation directives, implemented by many national governments to reduce the risk of person-to-person transmission of COVID-19, have been associated with decreased PA engagement [2,3]. During the initial COVID-19 containment (lockdown) period, PA decreased by more than 25% [3][4][5][6][7], whilst physical inactivity was associated with a higher risk for severe COVID-19 outcomes, including hospitalisations, admission to intensive care units and death [8]. The University College London COVID-19 study demonstrated that a substantial proportion of their 35,915 adult sample showed persistent physical inactivity or decreasing PA during the first 22 weeks of the pandemic [3].…”